Rabbit Anaesthesia

Question 1

What are some common procedures that rabbits are anaesthetised for?

Answer 1

Dental procedures, neutering, traumatic injuries, imaging.

Question 2

What are some common anaesthetic problems with rabbits?

Answer 2

Post operative ileus (gut stasis) due to pain/anorexia/stress, hard to assess pain, difficult to intubate., very succeptible to stress.

Question 3

Sub clinical respiratory disease is very common in rabbits, how does this affect anaesthesia in rabbits?

Answer 3

It is assumed all rabbits have a degree of respiratory dysfunction (due to pasturellosis), and so a T-piece is used incase IPPV needed and general careful.

Question 4

What problems would be considered before anaesthetising a rabbit for a dental procedure?

Answer 4

They could be dehydrated or malnourished depending on how long the dental problem has been going on.

Question 5

Where would you sample for a small and large amount of blood in a rabbit?

Answer 5

Small - cephalic or marginal ear vein

Large - lateral saphenous or jugular.

Question 6

Where is venous catheterisation done in a rabbit? Do local anaesthetics need to be used?

Answer 6

IV catherin in marginal ear vein, use EMLA (Euctectic mixture of local anaesthetics), which needs to be applied at least 30 mins before and occluded.

Question 7

Which opioids are good for analgesia in rabbits?

Answer 7

Buprenorphine or Butorphanol are good.

Morphine is not good as can cause ileus.

Question 8

What NSAIDs are good for analgesia in rabbits?

Answer 8

Meloxicam is well tolerated.

Question 9

Before anaesthesia, do rabbits need to be starved? Why is an accurate weight important?

Answer 9

No they do not need to be starved.

Drug doses need to be accurate.

Question 10

What premeds can be used in rabbits?

Answer 10

“Hypnorm” - Fluanisone and Fentanyl, or Medetomidine, remember analgesics.

Question 11

For induction of anaesthesia, would you use inhalational or injectable agents?

Answer 11

INHALATIONAL SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF POSSIBLE, as they cause breath holding and bradycardia.

Question 12

What injectable drugs can be used for induction of anaesthesia in rabbits?

Answer 12

Hypnorm, ketamine combinations (esp. ket/alpha 2/and opioid), Propofol, Alfaxalone

Question 13

How is Hypnorm administered for induction? What are some side effects of giving Hypnorm for induction in rabbits?

Answer 13

Given IM.

Resp depression, poor muscle relaxation, long recovery.

Question 14

How are ketamine combinations administered for induction in rabbits?

Answer 14

IM or SC

Question 15

How are Propofol and Alfaxalone administered for induction in rabbits?

Answer 15

IV

Question 16

Before intubation of rabbits, what sholuld be done? What kinds of intubation methods can be used?

Answer 16

Check mouth for food. It is difficult to intubate a rabbit. ETT, laryngeal masks and V-gels can be used. May use anti-sialogogue.

Question 17

During maintenance of anaesthesia in rabbits, what type of breathing system is used?

Answer 17

Ayre’s T piece. Always give oxygen and make sure eyes are protected.

Question 18

How is depth assess in rabbits when maintaining anaesthesia? Is the palpebral reflex useful?

Answer 18

Palpebral reflex is useless as lost as such early time.
Tail pinch - lost at light to medium
Toe and ear pinch - lost at medium to deep

Question 19

How soon after anaesthesia should a rabbit be eating?

Answer 19

Encourage eating and return to owner ASAP, must be brought back if not eating/passing faeces in 24 hours.